The Bat-Eared Fox Project, founded in 2000, concentrates on research and protection of small predators on farmland in Namibia. These include not only the bat-eared fox but also the aardwolf, the cape fox, the African wild cat and the black-footed cat.

In addition to the behaviour observation and population data recording, we particularly want to ascertain facts that determine the life and survival of these animal species on farmland. These include the reciprocal transfer of infectious diseases between domestic and wild animals, the impacts of pest control and poaching.

We also want to make the general public aware of how important it is to not only protect some spectacular animal species but also to ensure the survival of the largest possible variety. 

This because each animal and plant, regardless of how unimportant it appears, fulfils a task within its habitat. The disappearance of a species thus causes a change within the affected ecological system, which can endanger the survival of other living beings in the short-term or long-term.

We particularly concentrate our work on farmland because, even in Africa, there are hardly any remaining untouched/unpopulated wild areas because of the growing human population.  

This means that if we want to permanently ensure the survival of the variety of the African animal world, this can only happen in co-existence with humans and their working and domestic animals.  We therefore attach great importance to the co-operation with Namibian farmers, from whom we have received great interest and support.

The findings of our scientific work flows directly into our species protection programme. Our aim is not just to point the finger at potential sinners but instead to help to solve the problems of the farmers with wild animals, or to find new ways of protecting the wild animals. That is why we particularly also support the exchange of experience with and between farmers and farm workers.

A research and information centre is to be established, in the next few months, on our Nanania Farm, which has already served as a base for the Bat-eared Fox Project for the last 5 years.

Also built there at the same time will be a receiving station for orphaned and injured wild animals, which should then, like Fanta, find their way back into freedom from Nanania.

In co-operation with other projects and wild animal specialists, we also then want to develop a programme in South Namibia which will allow us to stop the shooting of so-called ‘problem-causing’ predatory wild animals by collecting them from the affected farms and then releasing them in other areas.    

This photo shows Schalk, a daughter from Fanta’s second litter, which was caught by a metal trap at the age of ten months. She must have got this injury the night before the photo was taken because I had observed her together with her partner the evening before.

Because of her trust towards me, it was possible to catch Schalk and take her to an animal clinic in Windhoek where her three toes had to be amputated. It took several months before these injures were sufficiently healed. Schalk spent this time, initially in the house for hygiene reasons and then in an outdoor pen. 

Schalk gave birth to her four cubs during this time.

Unfortunately, Schalk never completely recovered despite our efforts. Schalk died from a chronic inflammation 10 months after her injury and 5 months after we had released her into the wilderness. Schalk was unfortunately not the only victim that year because her sister Joy was killed by stray dogs a month after I had found Schalk dead in a field. Both losses affected me personally very much because Schalk and Joy had developed a particularly close relationship with me.  

From Schalk’s cubs, we have successfully returned to the wilderness one male fox whereas the other three from the litter still live near the house in a large pen. Joy also had three cubs, which we unfortunately never found again after her death.

Poaching is forbidden by law in Namibia but nevertheless still a large problem that cannot be solved even with heavy penalties. Despite my love of wild animals and my efforts to protect them, I find it difficult to reproach unemployed parents with 5 hungry children.

Such problems must be recognised and tackled, particularly in poor countries, for an active animal protection.  

That is why we are concentrating, within the scope of our work, not only on the potential rescue of injured wild animals and the protection of threatened animal species but also simultaneously trying to change the attitude of the local population towards wild animals by way of understanding, education and support.

Why we need help

Because, the future of the Bat-eared Fox Project depends on it.

But to first introduce myself. My name is Margit Du Toit and I am the initiator and director of the project. I was born in Braunschweig, Germany, went to school in Dortmund and studied veterinary medicine in Leipzig. After I received my qualification beginning of 2000, I initiated the Bat-eared Fox Project as a non profit organisation based in Dortmund.

After nearly two years of preparations, I was able to buy a farm close to the small town Maltahöhe in the south of Namibia. Nanania is since then not only home for the bat-eared fox project, but also for my daughter, my farmworkers with their families and me.

As we receive only few donations trough the organization in Germany, I financed our work so far mostly myself. But this is not possible anymore and not only out of financially reasons.

Because to be actually able to realize the aims I set myself with initiating the project, than I have to do this fulltime and can not on the same time efficiently run a farm.       

Thus the most urgent support we need as soon as possible is enough funds to cover our current maintenance costs and to purchase a second hand 4x4. This would for now give us the chance to intensify our research and conservation work and to concentrate on the future of the Bat-eared Fox Project.

But we do not want to be completely dependent on donations. With intensifying our research work and realizing the research centre, we hope to become more attractive for a wildlife interested investor, who would be interested in extending our small but already existing guestfarm business.